Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-12-01
Mount Vernon Avenue.

Mount efnOn Avenue.
The executive committee OF the Mount
Vernon Avenue Association met yesterday
afternoon Ia Wizards HOTEL Washington.
There were present Mr., j. 3 smoct, chair
man. and Messrs Hume, Hatch, Cook, Sick
les, Windsor, Clark, Fog, Gslt, Willard, Ag'
new, Reed. Beckham, Pearson. Walton,
Gillinehsm and Snowden.
Moi. Sickles, one ofthe engineers engaged
to survey the route for the avenue, submit
ted the following report OF the results of ex'
animation ofroutes for The proposed avenue:
The proposed Memorial bridge to Airing
ton will become the starting point, aud from
This point to Alexandria an examination
vas made of the NEST direct and practicable
routes Following near the base of the ridge
on which the cemetery is situated is the old
Georgetown and Alexandria road. This
road is perfectly straight to the southern
boundary Of Arlington, near the Columbia
turnpike. From the cemetery gaze TO the
Columbia turnpike, a distance OF ore and
one tbird milea, the surface oil tho road IL,
with the exception ofone short accent, gent
Is uuduialing, aud cnp be made vt trflIng
cost equal TO any highway iu the world
This portion ofihs road commands an un-
obstructed view of the Potomac and Wash
irnton Near the southern boundary of Ar
lington the read rises $50 feet above the
liver. The ascent is about 1000 feet in length
aud the maximum gradient of four feet rise
ic y hundred is used. Diverging from the
oG country road-on the site Of Fort Al.
hany-begins what is known as the gravel
road This follows the ridge for accut one
mile. The view from this is unsurpassed d,
the city of Washington and The Potomac
from U.urszet9sYn to Alexandria lying i'm
media,ely beneath. Crossing .Four-mile
run, where bridge with span of not less
THAI 125 feet will be required, the road
skirts the lower slopes Of the valley for
distance of three fourths Of q mile until leav
ing the county road at Swans lane. and de-
flsciigg TO The right it crosses under the
Washington and Ohio railroad at point
where there 10 deep embankment. Thence
to Alexandria, one and half miles, by q
straight line, the road will pass over level
surface. Just Forth of the city limita the
road will cross at grade both the Virginia
Midland ard Washington and Alexandria
railroads. The route surveyed terminates
at the northern end of Washington street,
making that street, which is 100 feet wide,
the continuation CT the avenue through the
city. The length of the route described,
fem the north cemetery gate to Washing
ton street, is five and a.half miles, making
the dis ance between Washington and Alex
apdria by The route described six and half
miles.
An alternative route Tor short distance,
which has its advocates was also examined
and measured. This may be designated as
he valley route as distinguished from the
ridge route AS heretofore stated, the gravel
and the valley roads diverge at the point
where The summit OF the ridge is first at.
tanned, Immediately south of the Columbia
turnpike. From this summit the valley
road descend5 along the western slopes OF
the ridge until it reaches tho bottom lands
of Long Branch run, which 1t keeps to Four
mile run. Crossing the run about $50 yards
above the Stone bridge or gravel read ron;e
the two roads unite 800 yards beyond. The
whole length of the valley road described
falls little short CT two miles, and is 24O
yards longer than the gravel road, though
this difference can be reduced 10 sixty yards.
Both roads eau probably De shortened near
" e.quarter Of mile by crossing Four
mile run al point lower down the stream.
The valley road between Georgetown and
Alexandria is also known as the "Braddock
road
Though tho route surveyed contemp'ates
crossing under the Washington aud Ohio
railroad, there remains the choice between
this route aud ono 400 yards westward,
which will give an overhead crossing.
1 have heard Of no property owner along
the route who does rot express willing.
ness to convey free right of way for the
avenue. Where buildings are taken thew
must be paid for. Three or four brick build.
ings will come within the line OF the road
and can with difficulty he avoided. The
cost Of these is roughly estimated at $50, 600
In the approach 10 Alexandria it will be
found necessary probably 70 remove about
g dozen small frame buildings.
That the avenue should pass through Alexsn-
dria there can be li;tle question. Saying nothing
nothing of the localities and scenes within that
ancient city which are closely associated with
him who rests at Mount Vernon, and arc hardly
less interesting to the visitor than Mount Vernon
itself apart from ell sentiment IN the case, there
remains the fact that there are 10 routes west OF
Alcxandria which assure greater directncss An
air limo from Arlington cato to Mount Vernon
passes ono and half miles rest OF Alexandria.
Theoi etically one quarter of mile might be
gained by such ronte; practically it would prob
ably be found no shorter than that through Alex
andra.
Major Newly, smother OF the engineers engaged
in the survey but on the other routes. submitted
n brief report his portion Of tho work, in which
he gave some valuable information as to the ex-
pense which would be incurred in building tho
road
Mr.. F. A. Reed moved that the corresponding
secretary, Mr. Fox, be requested to communicate
with tho Mount Vernon regents, to unfold to
them che associations plans, and to ask their co.
operation. Tho motion was carried unanimously.
1t wus unanimously decided to increase the
number of members of tn. executive committee
to thirty-one.
The committee will meet in this city on Wed